CABINET OFFICE

Senior Salaries Review Body (Triennial Review)

Francis Maude: On 5 March 2014, I announced in Parliament through a written ministerial statement—Official Report, column 47WS —the commencement of the triennial review of the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB). I am now pleased to announce the completion of the review.
	The work of the SSRB, and the publication of its annual reports on senior salaries, provides transparency and allows for public scrutiny of senior pay. This review has concluded that the body remains fit for purpose, delivering functions which continue to be relevant and beneficial to the Government within an appropriate governance framework. However, the SSRB of the future must be strong, with sufficiently skilled and competent members to make robustly evidenced and sensibly judged advice to Government. As a result, a number of recommendations have been made to improve the governance and composition of the SSRB.
	The triennial review has been carried out with the participation of a wide range of interested parties across Government. I am grateful to all those who contributed to this triennial review. The final report has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan (Monthly Progress Report)

William Hague: I wish to inform the House that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, together with the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development, is today publishing the 36th progress report on developments in Afghanistan since November 2010.
	During March, three candidates withdrew from the presidential race. On 6 March, Qayyum Karzai, the President’s older brother, withdrew and threw his support behind Zalmai Rassoul. Similarly, Nader Naeem (who stepped down on 26 March) endorsed Rassoul’s campaign. However, Abdul Rahim Wardak chose not to endorse another candidate when he resigned from the race on 16 March.
	First Vice-President, Marshal Mohammed Qasim Fahim Khan, died on 9 March. President Karzai declared three days of national mourning in response to his death. On 18 March, President Karzai appointed Mohammad Younis Qanuni as first Vice-President, to replace the late Marshal Fahim. Qanuni’s appointment was approved by Parliament, as required by the constitution, on 25 March.
	In March the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) published its review into five of DFID Afghanistan’s bilateral programmes from the growth and livelihoods sectors. This included three projects in Helmand, two of which have now closed. DFID has welcomed the report and its recommendations as part of its post-2014 planning process. The Department is taking account of the issues raised by ICAI in its work to reduce poverty in Afghanistan over the long term.
	On 20 March, insurgents attacked the Serena hotel in Kabul, targeting guests celebrating Nowruz (new year). Nine people were killed in the attack, including an Afghan journalist and his family. This killing and the murder of a dual-national Swedish/British journalist on 11 March, prompted the Afghan journalist community to enact a 15-day blackout on any reporting of insurgent messages, to extend over the election period.
	On 20 March I announced the closure of the UK-led Helmand provincial reconstruction team (PRT). This is in line with President Karzai’s request that all PRTs across Afghanistan are to close by the end of 2014 in keeping with the process of transition to an Afghan lead. UK forces continued the redeployment of personnel and equipment in central Helmand, with the closure of forward operating base Price on 15 March. This leaves just Camp Bastion and observation post Sterga 2 with a UK presence in the region. Taskforce Helmand has begun the process of integration with HQ Regional Command (Southwest), and ceased to operate a separate HQ from 1 April.
	I welcome the presidential and provincial elections that took place on 5 April. These will be covered in April’s parliamentary report.
	I am placing the report in the Library of the House. It will also be published on the gov.uk website (www.gov. k/government/publications/afghanistan-progress-reports).

HOME DEPARTMENT

Migration Advisory Committee (Triennial Review)

Theresa May: On 27 March 2012 I announced in Parliament, through a written ministerial statement—Official Report, column 128WS—the commencement of the triennial review of the Migration Advisory Committee. I am now pleased to announce the completion of the review.
	The Migration Advisory Committee provides independent and evidence-based advice to Government on migration issues.
	The review concludes that the functions performed by the Migration Advisory Committee are still required and that it should be retained as a non-departmental public body. The review also looked at the governance arrangements for the body in line with guidance on good corporate governance set out by the Cabinet Office. The report makes some recommendations in this respect; these will be implemented shortly.
	The full report of the review of the Migration Advisory Committee can be found on the gov.uk website and copies have been placed in the House Library.

TRANSPORT

Access for All (Funding)

Stephen Hammond: Improving access to Great Britain’s railway stations is a key priority for this Government and so, despite the deficit, we have confirmed that the Access for All programme will continue. The existing programme will deliver an accessible, step-free route at more than 150 key stations by March 2015 and has already delivered smaller scale accessibility improvements at more than 1,100 stations through the small schemes fund.
	I am therefore pleased to announce the stations which will benefit from the additional £100 million we have made available to extend the Access for All programme from 2015 until 2019. The selected stations will, subject to a feasible design being possible, receive an accessible route into the station and to and between each platform.
	The stations due to benefit are:
	Alfreton
	Barry Town
	Barnes
	Battersea Park
	Blackhorse Road
	Blairhill
	Cathays
	Chatham
	Cheltenham Spa
	Elgin
	Garforth
	Godalming
	Grays
	Hamilton Central
	Hebden Bridge
	Hither Green
	Kidsgrove
	Leyland
	Lichfield Trent Valley
	Liverpool Central
	Llanelli
	Luton
	Manningtree
	Market Harborough
	Northallerton
	Peckham Rye
	Penrith (North Lakes)
	Petts Wood
	Queen’s Park
	Seven Sisters
	Southend East
	St Mary Cray
	Streatham
	Theale
	Tottenham Hale
	Trefforest
	Virginia Water
	Walton-on-Thames
	Warwick
	West Hampstead
	Weston-super-Mare
	Whitton
	All work at the stations is due to be completed by the end of rail control period 5 in 2019. These measures will make a real difference to people’s lives, not only opening up access to leisure and employment for disabled rail passengers but making it easier for those with heavy luggage or children in buggies to use the network.

Contingencies Fund Advance

Patrick McLoughlin: I hereby give notice of the Department for Transports’ intention to seek an advance from the Contingencies Fund. The Department requires an advance to meet an urgent cash requirement pending parliamentary approval of the main estimate 2014-15.
	It was announced on 23 April that Network Rail borrowing directly from Government rather than issuing debt in its own name would provide better value for money for the taxpayer. The Department for Transport has included in total £6,500,000,000 in the main estimate 2014-15 for this change in borrowing arrangements—this amount includes £550,000,000 which will be taken as a Contingency Fund advance.
	Parliamentary approval for capital of £550,000,000 for this new expenditure will be sought in the main estimate 2014-15 for the Department for Transport. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £550,000,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.
	The advance will be repaid immediately following Royal Assent of the Supply and Appropriation Bill in July.

Ultra-low Emission Vehicles

Robert Goodwill: I am pleased to inform the House that my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has announced today the key elements of a comprehensive package of measures to support ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) between 2015 and 2020. This follows the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the 2013 spending round that the Government will make £500 million available to support ULEVs in this period.
	The outline package of measures confirms the UK Government’s strong commitment to making the UK a premier location for the design, manufacture and adoption of ULEVs. It aims to provide a long-term, stable and comprehensive policy framework backed by a significant funding commitment. The package gives certainty on grant support for consumer incentives, provides funding for vital infrastructure, recognises the importance of other vehicle sectors including buses, taxis and HGVs and provides guaranteed funding for ULEV-specific R and D. It also encourages innovative measures from cities to turn their areas into exemplars for ULEV take-up.
	Key elements include:
	At least £200 million for the continuation of the plug-in car grant, with the grant cap remaining at £5,000 per car until a review in 2017, or the first 50,000 vehicles, whichever is the sooner;
	£100 million for ULEV-specific R and D;
	£35 million for a new city scheme competition, to support flagship cities in introducing innovative local measures;
	£20 million for ULEV taxis;
	£30 million for low-emission buses;
	£32 million for infrastructure including rapid chargers;
	£31 million for other ULEV types including vans; and
	£4 million for HGV gas refuelling infrastructure.
	I can confirm that the Government are also seeking to adopt a flexible approach. Not all the £500 million funding is allocated here, and minimum allocations are given which could be extended to reflect market conditions. Many elements of the package, including the consumer incentives, are also subject to securing the necessary state aid approvals from Europe.
	More information on the package can be found at, www.gov.uk/olev and further detail will be made available by autumn 2014.